Hope and fear in an atomic age

Living Under a Mushroom Cloud: Fear and Hope in the Atomic Age

Atomic power invoked both fear and hope in Americans after World War II. While American-developed atomic bombs had ended the war, many Americans were afraid of that power being used against them, especially after the Soviets detonated their own bomb. Concern over the destructive power of atomic energy and the spread of communism led to an increased interest in civil defense. This concern co-existed with optimistic portrayals of the future made possible by the awesome power of atomic energy. This exhibit explores the fears and hopes that gripped the nation during the Cold War.